Re: Apple IIe seen in Discovery Channel documentary "2057: The Body"

[Charlie Springer <RAM@regnirps.com>]

On Mon, 14 May 2007 23:39:00 -0700, mdj wrote
(in article <1179211140.386733.252920@o5g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>):

> You need highly visible and emotive examples for that scenario to
> change public opinion. Ironically a great example comes from Australia
> where the last person executed was in Melbourne, Victoria, 1967.
> Cutting a long story short, a prisoner escaped and a prison guard was
> shot dead in the process. It was election time, and one party made it
> political issue that they would have this man hung. A month or two
> (and a bank robbery) later they caught him, the party won the election
> and they very swiftly had him tried, and hung.
> 
> Later, it became apparent to most people that the evidence presented
> at the trial supported a very different conclusion: the guard had been
> shot by another guard who was firing at the prisoner. Justice had been
> perverted. Very shortly after the death penalty was abolished in
> Victoria.

Too bad, since the death was caused by the escapee. What is the deal with the 
abstract fears of the Australians? Fear of wrong conviction, fear they will 
go crazy with a gun so have them destroyed, general fear of the outback? I 
don't get it.

Is it something to do with Australia being settled involuntarily versus the 
US being settled by less reluctant newcomers?

-- Charlie Springer